Page 98 of Sheltering You

It seemed like he wanted to say something else, but after a moment, he released her hand.

She kissed Rabie good-night and escaped to the bathroom.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Derrick ’s eyes were closed when Jasmine emerged from the bathroom a few minutes after she’d practically run in.

He’d managed to get his T-shirt on, and then he’d crawled between the sheets, exhausted. But he couldn’t sleep. Too many images. Men with guns and Jasmine being dragged across the parking lot and shooting at SUVs.

And he swore he could still feel her lips on his forehead.

He didn’t mind focusing on that memory.

Her kiss had been so natural, as if she did it every day. He wished…

He wished for more than a kiss on the head.

He wished for things he couldn’t have.

“Are you awake?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

He opened his eyes.

She stood over him, a silhouette with the light spilling from the bathroom behind her. She’d changed into the pink pajamas he’d seen when he’d woken her the night before. Considering the shapeless dresses she always wore, he’d figured her for the flannel-nightgown type, but as usual, she’d surprised him. These were cute and shapely and…

He cleared his throat. “I’m awake.”

She held out a glass of water. “I forgot to give you Tylenol. You wish to take them?”

“Yes, please.” He pushed himself up, trying very hard not to let pain show in his expression.

How could a little scrape hurt so bad?

Well, maybe it was more than a little scrape. He’d been shot. Did it count that the bullet hadn’t actually gone inside him? What were the rules for these things?

Not that it was a competition, but had any of his brothers ever been shot? Grant, probably, with all his military experience, but what about the rest of them? Derrick rarely had bragging rights over his brothers, but maybe…

“Why are you smiling?” Jasmine asked.

“Never mind.” He opened his hand, and she dropped a couple of tablets into his palm. “Just two? Could I have a couple more?”

“The package says⁠—”

“Let’s walk on the wild side, shall we?”

With a wary expression, she got him two more pills, and he swallowed all four with a gulp of water.

Rabie hadn’t stirred in the other bed. His breathing was even—not loud enough to be considered a snore, but close.

“You must be exhausted,” he said.

“And you.” But even after she took the empty glass, she didn’t move away from his bedside.

“Rough day. Probably about the worst day I’ve ever had.”

Her head moved up and down slowly, but she said, “I have had worse.”

He didn’t want to think about that. He didn’t want to think about all the terrible, terrible days Jasmine had endured in her life.